Shadows of Bankor

Ru'ni approached the Enclave, he was supposed to be here yesterday with a delivery of herbs and cuttings from the Sky Tree Sea, but his abduction and subsequent escape from the Imperials ruined all the samples he had brought.

He only hoped that he might be able to explain what had happened, he suspected that the Sister would be understanding though.

A sister ws here there were many sisters and brothers, that was the Aznuri way. She was teaching the children a dance when she saw Ru’ni and stopped and ran and gave him the traditional Aznuri greeting, placing her forehead on his well as best as she could since she was shorter. Symbolizing that all Aznuri no matter species were one people.

The other greeting was the Witch Eye reserved for strangers, it was a glare that also added a bit of attitude of the audacity of these outsiders.

Sister Viati backed up and smiled sheepishly and said in the Aznuri tongue, “I.. I was concerned when you didn’t come yesterday I see I was worried for nothing.”

She was always pleased to see Ru’ni and always a bit red of face.

As their foreheads come together, Ru'ni clasps his arms around Viati's upper arms and closes his eyes for a moment, relieved to have made it back here after his recent trials and replied back also in their shared native tongue.

"Your concern is appreciated sister, though not quite for nothing, nothing permanent at least." Ru'ni explains as he unlimbers a long, wrapped package from its position strapped to his back.

"There was a protest in town about the mining, I got caught up in it, beaten and captured by the Empire's forces." He spoke softly to avoid his voice carrying to unfamiliar ears.

"If you're interested, I hope this might make up for the missed delivery, but if it is too dangerous to keep here, I understand."

((If Viati moves to unwrap it here, Ru'ni will shake his head warning her off.))

She takes it and then her eyes go wide as she hears his tale and she said, “Brother…”

She is pained at what he suffered and almost reached out and touched his arm but held herself back and finally stammered, “I… how? You need to be more careful!”

She held the parcel but her eyes were focused on him.

"There is much I have yet to learn about the city, I see that now. I can only hope that I and those others that were being sent to Camp-14 are not now on some permanent watch list, or my forays into town may be cut drastically short. The physical pain was temporary, the lesson much more lasting." He replied with a softened smile.

"The best lessons are the hardest learned yes? I tried to take the most roundabout route here, in case I was still under their monitoring, but an Aznuri coming here should not rouse too much suspicion I hope."

“The Empire are strong but are cowards, they know we will not bend to them. Still we should not stoke the bull before it ruts,” she said warmly.

“Can I get you some water, brother? Are you hungry? I made some bread and have spiced fish.” She smiled and looked at her feet and added, “I mean if you are hungry.”

At the mention of food, Ru'ni realized exactly how hungry he actually was. "Please don't go to any trouble, but if there are leftovers, then that sounds divine."

"Have you got enough blue speckled trout to last until my next visit? They've migrated for the season, so it's a little harder to fish them now." Ru'ni sucks at small talk, especially with cute native girls, and it shows.

“I am sure we will manage, Brother Yubu makes the journey to Jaklu monthly and brings back much fish and produce. He trades things we weave,” she said guiding him into a building and starts making him a bowl of food.

There is rice, fish, spiced vegetables and a plate of fried bread. She sits down with him and others join them to listen and eat. She continued, “Please eat up, brother, I… I would be honored if you ate my fish, the fish.”

Ru'ni accepted the plate graciously, offering a blessing for the food so tenderly prepared, and to the spirit of the animal whose flesh he was about to consume.

"Yubu is a good man." Ru'ni commented before savoring the first bite.

"No one can balance the flavours like you can Sister. It's just as well I don't live here in Rygor permanently. I'd grow far too fat from your cooking." He complimented Viati's culinary talents with a smile.

Her cheeks brightened at the praise and she said, “You’re just teasing me now, but thank you.”

She looked away and said, “So tell me everything that happened, I feel I can see it; there was a desert and a storm? It’s unclear though, I wish my gift was stronger.”

"Yes, the Dead Sands Waste I was told. Inhospitable and dangerous, but so is any place to the unwary. There were a number of us there, another exile called Sinnya of Twi'lek heritage and a strange human woman who kept calling me Pex?"

He appeared very confused by the name. "We managed to get free and turn the tables on our captors before the storm struck, hunkered down and rode it out. When it cleared we all worked together to make our escape. I think the troopers were after two women more than most - Yusandr and Weggs were their names I think."

Sister Viati said harshly of the strange person calling him Pex, “Laowai…”

She shook her head and said, “Yusandr is trouble, she fights the Empire and brings their wrath, I do not know this Weggs person.” She placed a hand on his forearm and then said, “I see it now, I see white haired temptress and that one must be Weggs, such hair she has… these laowai bring nothing but trouble.”

She then removed her hand and said, “I… the people are thankful you were not harmed, brother.”

The others listen and another Aznuri a twi’lek said, “We must not involve ourselves.”

Another a female human seemed disgusted and said, “We of the Uliji believe we should fight, these Empire laowai will not stop at this city, they are like glow ants, they will spread unless checked.”

Ru'ni thought on all the words offered and lifted his hands in an effort to calm the debate. There were many voices and thoughts, and while the tribes of the Aznuri were all different a united front on this issue would be nice.

"We are all separate tribes, but we are also all one people." He began. "That is true of us as Aznuri, but also as Bankorians. Just as Aznuri society relies on Orosini, Uliji, Malawi and all the other tribes to function effectively, so does the delicate balance of this world rely on the talents and people of it's own tribes to survive and thrive."

"I am not one of your leaders, Sister Viati and Sister Hulia have earned that right, but I would ask you to contemplate on the little wisdom I offer. The ecosystem of this world, is as delicate as the one of the Sky Tree Sea and I believe we must strike a delicate balance between fighting and sitting still. This is not exclusively our war to wage, but nor can we sit idly by and do nothing. For if we do, how long until this Empire seeks more and more resources from this land. Our forests could be next, maybe even The Calm."

They all shared worried looks when the Calm is mentioned. It was sacred, it was the place to be protected, the place where the ancestors went when the Force called them home. Viati added, “Brother Ru’ni speaks with great wisdom, we must be as one people.”

“The Calm is our heart, it is the place that keeps the souls of our ancestors, we must never forget that.”

She offered lightly, hesitantly, “Will… will you stay with us for a time or must you leave for the sacred lands?”

As his people listened and mulled over his words, Ru'ni relaxed in his seat and returned to his meal. Turning to Viati with a wan smile at her question.

"I must return to report on the circumstances surrounding what happened to me. The Empire seems to be intensifying their efforts and the elders need to be informed." Ru'ni explained, a little teasingly.

"But that doesn't need to happen until tomorrow. I have a few other errands to take care of in town, but if there is a spare cot out the back, I would seek permission to stay the night."

She smiled looking down and said, "I will be sure to make you a meal to take with you for your journey, brother."

Viati's smile was infectious and Ru'ni's grin broadened.

"Your generosity is appreciated Sister. Thank you for always making me welcome here."

She smiled brightly and then rose to put the parcel that was sitting against the wall somewhere safe leaving him with the others who ate and shared gossip.

Ru'ni joined the conversation, trying to turn it away from the seriousness of death and us versus them topics into more light heartedness. Sharing the latest news from the Sea, Ru'ni made small talk as he finished his meal, trying to listen for any other tales of hostility in Rygor.

Viati appeared in the doorway and motioned for him to join her, “Brother could you assist me?”

Ru'ni excused himself from the communal food table, ruffling the hair of a young human Aznuri, maybe 8 years old who was particularly enraptured in one of his stories, promising to finish it soon.

Walking to the archway, he smiled at Viati. "They seem to grow up so much faster out here." He commented off handedly.

She smiled and said, “They have to, the city seems more dangerous by the day.”

She then walked to stand on a terrace which looked out over much of the enclave and the various tiers of structures in a mismatch of colors and designs. She breathed in deep enjoying the warmth on her skin and said, “I hope… you don’t mind if I pulled you away from them, Brother.”

“I admit it was a selfish notion to just be here with… with you,” she admitted with a smile and then a look towards the view.

Ru'ni shook his haid, causing his long braid to dance around his shoulders. "They have you everyday. I'm grateful for the few moments we can steal together. Although if Sister Hulia finds out, I'm in for another lecture aren't I."

Throwing these concerns to the wind, he brushes Vitai's hair to one side and places a kiss on her neck. "Sometimes the risk is worth it."

Viati smiled warmly, “I was unsure if you… I am the foolish monkey-lizard.”

“Sister Hulia thinks of me as still little girl, not so little am I, and I am a woman, your woman,” she said firmly. Before turning and putting her arms around him. She said, “Something dark is coming and I worry for you… for the people but you first.”

"First in my heart." Ru'ni answered. "My little monkey-lizard." He couldn't help but tease. "With your love to sustain me, nothing can truly harm me."

Then his tone turns a little more somber, his grip a little tighter as he held on, never wanting to let go.

"You know that our stolen moments are precious, but as one marked to be a shaman of our people, you know what that means for my future, for our future. When the time comes, they will choose my lifemate. So it has ever been, and so it will always be."